Automatic water mop and polisher



Aug. 26,1941. A, E. ANDERSON AUTOMATIC WATER MOP AND POLISHER Filed Aug.25, 1939 v INVENTOR: flrdififlndersorg ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 26, 1941 pairs!) snares" FATENTYOFFICE Application August25, 1939, serial No. 291,821

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a new and useful automatic water mop andpolisher and has for one of its objects to provide an exceedingly simpleand effective device of this character which is highly efficient inoperation and especially adapted for washing and polishing automobileand other finished or smooth surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to construct a device of thischaracter consisting of a hollow handle unit including a head, and, adetachable cap carrying the mop elements and forming with the head areceptacle tohold a cleaning or polishlng substance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mop structure in which acontinuous stream of water may be fed thereto in order to keep the mopwet and carry off the dirt as it is loosened by the rubbing or scrubbingoperations.

A further object of this invention is to form a detachable cap of uniqueconstruction to which the mop elements are attached in a novel andinexpensive manner.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of thedetails of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setforth and. then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describeits construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mop constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with a portion of the handle brokenaway.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the detachable cap showingin dotted lines the manner of mounting the mop elements.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cap shown in Fig. 3 looking at the innerend.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary handle unit.

Fig. 6 is a view of one of the mop elements laid out flat to show thestitching.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the device for use especially as apolisher.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied It represents the handleunit consisting of a hollow or tubular shank H and hollow head l2 openat one end. The interior of said head communicates with the bore of theshank through the elongated or substantially oblong flue I3 formed inthe head with one end of bottom plan View of the a circular samerelation as the lugs I '4 and the inner or underneath surface of saidridge is inclined for short distances from the passageways as indicatedat 9, Fig. 3. Beyond the rim ridge IT is an internal inwardly projectingflange 20 which with said ridge I1 forms, at least in effect, a

thread so that whenthe cap is assembled on the head of the handle unitsaid cap will be secured against accidental displacement. The bottom orouter end of the cap is provided with several parallel spaced bars 2|over which are folded the mop elements 22.

The mop elements may be of any suitable material but preferably eachelement is composed of a number of soft rope strands 23 laid side byside and sewn together by the stitches 24. A mop element is folded overeach bar 2| by inserting opposite ends through the spaces between thebars and said ends of the mop element permitted to hang free. In orderto prevent accidental displacement of the mop elements while providingfor their removal, a knot 25 may be tied in one or more of the ropestrands of each mop element. An excellent manner in which to do this isto tie a knot in both of the end rope strands of each mop element bynearly interengaging the two parts of each of said end strands outsideof a bar 2|. Portions of the knots thus formed will protrude beyond theperimeter of the cap, as shown in Fig. 2, and function as buffers toprevent the sides of the cap from coming in contact with the surfacebeing operated upon and reducing to a minimum the chances of scratchingor otherwise damaging said surface.

Generally the strands of the mop elements are long, as in Fig. 1, whenthe device is to be used truly as a mop and utilizing water or otherliquid as the washing or cleaning medium, but may be much shorter, as inFig. '7, when used as a polisher and employing an oil or some equivalentas the polishing medium. In all other respects the two devices arealike. Actually the two devices are made up by using one handle unit andtwo separate caps, each cap having its own mop elements of suitablelength.

The handle unit, especially when used as an .element of the mopassembly, is attached to a said flue communicating directly with theshank hose connected with a source of water supply.

Any desirable means may be employed for attaching the handle unit to thehose and for purposes of illustration I have shown a section of rubbertubing 26 on the outer end of the shank II as the coupling. In this casea hose nozzle can be inserted in the tubing and the water will flow intoand through the handle unit.

In practice, when it is desired to wash a surface, the device isattached to a hose, as stated above, and the water turned on, andthereafter the mop is rubbed back and forth over the surface forloosening any dirt or other foreign matter. Since there is a constantsupply of Water passing through the mop, it is unnecessary to dip themop into a pail of water from time to time. This not only eliminatestime wasting operations but the cleansing element is always free fromdirt. Further the water passing through the mop elements carries off allforeign substances which might otherwise cling thereto and keeps the mopfresh and clean. Also when mopping any surface which will shed water itis unnecessary to rinse such surfaces as this is done automatically bythe water running over the surface from the mop.

A cake of soap, soap chips or other detergent in solid form may beplaced in the chamber provided by the cooperation of the cap and headthus furnishing a supply of a cleaning agent which will be taken up bythe water as it passes through the device.

After the mopping operations are completed the device can be removedfrom the hose and the mop cap replaced by a polishing cap. The polishercan be used in a dry state or an oil or other fluid substance placed inthe chamber within the polishing cap and the latter then mounted on thehead of the handle unit. The device is now ready for the polishingoperations and the fluid will be absorbed by the mop elements, after themanner of wicks, so as to maintain a constant supply at the outer endsof the mop lements of the polisher.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction herein shown and described as these may be varied withinthe scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

A mop and polisher consisting of a circular hollow head, a hollow shankformed with said head at substantially right angles to the axis of thehead with the interiors of said shank and head in communication to allowa free flow of liquid through them, a cap detachably connected directlyto the head, said cap including a circular body and spaced parallelbars, the spaces between the bars functioning as outlets for liquidflowing through the shank and head, and mop elements each comprising aplurality of rope strands, one of said mop elements folded over each barand the folded portions of at least one rope strand of each mop elementtied tog'eth'er to hold the mop elements in place.

ARVID E. ANDERSON.

